This simple recipe for Cherry Donuts uses plant-based ingredients creating pillowy soft donuts. Topped with cherry jam, and whipped cream they turn into the ultimate indulgent dessert!
They are perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a cozy brunch, a festive gathering, or just a sweet treat for yourself. Don't wait up - make these asap!
I love hosting brunches, and nothing beats the excitement of serving freshly made donuts. These cherry donuts are bursting with sweet, fruity flavors that are sure to delight your guests. The combination of cherry jam and plant-based whipped cream makes these donuts a standout treat!
If you’re looking for more delicious and plant-based brunch ideas, be sure to check out our cinnamon crunch french toast casserole, German apple pancakes, or these amazing dairy-free Crêpes.
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This post is supported by Amoretti. A big shoutout to the supporting brands that make The Simple Sprinkle possible. As always, everything shared about this brand is my own opinion.
🤔 What are Cherry Donuts?
Cherry Donuts are delightful fried dough treats. They are Berliner-style donuts (a donut without a whole in the middle) cut in half and topped with sweet cherry jam and luscious whipped cream.
These donuts are soft, fluffy, and packed with cherry flavor, making them an irresistible addition to any brunch or dessert table.
Our recipe uses plant-based ingredients to create a vegan-friendly version without compromising on taste or texture. These donuts are deep-fried to perfection, then topped with cherry goodness and creamy whipping cream.
📋 Ingredients
To make these cherry donuts, you’ll need the following ingredients:
For the Donut Dough:
- All-purpose flour: Makes the base for our recipe and provides a light structure and chewiness.
- Cane sugar: Adds sweetness, aids in browning during frying or baking, and provides food for the yeast to ferment.
- Vanilla sugar: Adds a hint of vanilla flavor throughout the dough, complementing the cherry flavor. We have a great recipe that you can follow to make your own vanilla sugar at hime!
- Oat milk: Hydrates the flour and helps form a soft, tender dough and provides a light sweetness.
- Dairy-free butter: Contributes to the tender and moist texture of the donuts. It also helps in the development of a golden-brown crust of the donut. It also keeps the recipe dairy-free and vegan-friendly!
- Active dry yeast: Ferments the sugars in the dough, producing carbon dioxide gas that makes the dough rise and become airy and fluffy.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile of the donuts, giving them a more complex and appealing taste.
- Amoretti's Natural Artisan Black Cherry Flavor - Using Amoretti's natural artisan black cherry flavor enhances the donuts' taste with a concentrated, natural alternative to purée. Their artisans are made from real fruit! They are super concentrated, ready-to-use and shelf-stable, making them ideal for enhancing your culinary creations! They ensure a vibrant cherry flavor without compromising any texture. Use code JACQUI10 at checkout to get 10$ off your Amoretti order!
- Oil for deep-frying (such as vegetable, canola, or coconut oil): Make sure you are using a suitable oil for frying. It is important because it ensures optimal cooking performance, safety, and flavor without breaking down or imparting unwanted tastes.
Garnish:
- Cherry jam: Provides a sweet and tangy topping that complements the donut's flavor, enhancing the cherry theme and adding moisture.
- Fresh cherries to garnish: Offers a burst of freshness and functions as cute decor.
Whipped Cream:
- Vegan whipped cream: Provides a fluffy, rich topping that pairs well with the cherry flavors, enhancing the overall dessert experience. By being plant-based the recipe keeps dairy-free and vegan-friendly.
- Lemon juice: Cuts through the sweetness of the whipped cream and cherry jam, providing a refreshing contrast.
- Amoretti's black cherry flavor (optional): Adds a concentrated cherry essence, ensuring the cherry flavor is prominent and consistent throughout the donut experience.
🔄 Substitutions
If you need to swap out any ingredients, here are some alternatives:
- Oat milk: Other milks of choice work great too! Such as almond, soy, or rice milk.
- Dairy-free butter: Coconut oil or margarine can work as a substitute.
- Cherry jam: Strawberry, raspberry, or any other fruit jam can be used.
- Cherries: Same with the cherries. Use any other fruit of choice!
- Whipped Cream: Use your favorite kind of whipping cream, or as an alternative you could use a thick yogurt, such as vegan quark or greek yogurt. We love Cocojune coconut yogurt!
💡 Variations
Customize your cherry donuts with these variation ideas:
- Chocolate Cherry Donuts: Add cocoa powder to the dough for a chocolatey twist. You could also spread the donuts with a chocolate spread, or drizzle with melted chocolate!
- Lemon Cherry Donuts: Add lemon zest and extract to the dough, as well as using lemon-flavored whipped cream.
- Nutty Cherry Donuts: Top with crushed, candied nuts for added crunch.
- Cinnamon Sugar Donuts: Roll the freshly fried donuts in cinnamon sugar before filling.
- Jelly Filled Donuts: Turn these donuts into jelly filled donuts! You can follow our simple recipe for jelly filled donuts.
- Experiment with Flavors: Add a hint of almond extract to complement the cherry flavor. Amoretti has a fabulous selection of many other flavorings to choose from as well!
🍽 Equipment
Here’s what you’ll need to make cherry donuts:
- Mixing bowl
- Electric mixer with dough hook attachment
- Wide non-stick skillet or cooking pot
- Thermometer (optional, for oil temperature)
- Baking sheet
- Piping bag and tip
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons, or a scale
👩🏽🍳 How To Make Cherry Donuts
Let's dive into the step-by-step process of making cherry donuts from scratch!
Start by making the Dough:
1. Combine dry ingredients: flour, sugar, and active dry yeast in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
2. While your electric mixer is running on low with the dough hook attachment, add oat milk, butter, vanilla extract, and black cherry flavor to the dry ingredients.
Mix for 2 minutes on low, then knead on medium-high speed for another 8 minutes until smooth.
1st and 2nd Rising:
1. Shape the dough into a ball, cover, and let it rise for 1 hour in a warm, non-drafty place (90-100°F).
2. After the first rise, divide the dough into 4 pieces for larger donuts, or 6 for smaller ones.
3. Fold and roll each piece into a ball and flatten slightly with the palm of your hand.
4. Place the dough balls on floured baking sheets, leaving space between them. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for another 30 minutes.
Fry the Donuts:
1. Heat oil in a wide non-stick skillet to 340-355°F. Gently transfer the risen dough balls to the hot oil. Fry on both sides until golden brown (about 2-3 minutes per side). Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil.
2. Let the freshly cooked donuts cool slightly, so they are save to touch. During the wait prepare whipping cream following package or recipe instructions. Season with lemon and black cherry flavoring to taste. Cut donuts in half, and spread with cherry jam.
Assembly:
Option 1: Pipe whipped cream, drizzle with more jam or cherry jam, and garnish with a cherry.
Option 2: Fill donuts with cherry jam and whipped cream using a piping bag, top with more whipped cream, and garnish with cherry jam and a cherry.
✨ Sprinkle's Expert Tips
- Oil Temperature: Ensure the oil is at the right temperature for frying to avoid greasy donuts.
- Resting Time: Allow the dough to rest adequately to ensure it rises properly.
- Avoid Overhandling: Handle the dough gently to avoid deflating it, which can result in dense donuts.
- Oil Temperature: Maintain the oil temperature between 350°F (175°C) and 375°F (190°C). Too hot, and the donuts will brown too quickly on the outside while remaining raw inside. Too cool, and they will absorb excess oil and become greasy. We highly recommend using a thermometer, such as the thermapen, to keep track of the oil's temprature.
- Fry in Batches: Fry the donuts in small batches to avoid overcrowding, which can lower the oil temperature and lead to uneven cooking.
- Serve Fresh: Donuts are best enjoyed fresh. Serve them warm or within a few hours of frying for the best taste and texture.
- Display & Serving: Display donuts on a tiered stand for an attractive presentation.
🍒 Serving Ideas
Serve your cherry donuts with:
- Dusted with powdered sugar
- (Vegan) ice cream
- Fresh fruit
- Hot coffee or tea
- Mimosas and Bellinis
- Charcuterie Board
- Spring Crudité
- Croissants and other pastries
- Muffins, Cupcakes and Scones
- Bagels and cream cheese
- Quiche or Frittata
- Milk teas, such as Mango Bubble Tea
💭 Recipe FAQ
Yes, you can bake them at 375°F for 15-20 minutes, but they won't have the same texture as fried donuts.
Attention: While you can bake this donut dough, baking will result in the texture and flavor to be slightly different. Baked donuts are typically lighter and less greasy than their fried counterparts, but they can still be delicious
If you have an air fryer, you can also try air frying the donuts.
Preheat the air fryer to 355°F (180°C) and cook the donuts for about 5-6 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are golden brown and cooked through.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave before serving.
🥣 Storage & Reheating Instructions
Short-Term Storage (Up to 3 Days)
- Let the ungarnished donuts (without jam, or whipped cream) cool completely at room temperature. Place the donuts in an airtight container, or wrapped in plastic in a paper bag.
- Store at room temperature overnight, and in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Warm in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or in a 350°F oven for 5 minutes. Garnish and enjoy!
Long-Term Storage (Up to 2 Months)
- Ensure ungarnished donuts (without jam, or whipped cream) are fully cooled. Wrap each donut in plastic wrap. Place in a zip-top bag or an airtight container. Label with the date and freeze for up to 2 months.
- Thaw overnight in the fridge, or by placing in the toaster oven and gently reheating them.
How to store garnished donuts?
It’s best to half donuts and add the toppings just before serving, to maintain freshness. If you need to store cherry donuts that were cut and topped with jam and whipped cream, you can store them for up to 1 day.
→ Place the garnished donuts in an airtight container in the fridge.
Additional Tips
- Avoid Refrigeration for Long-Term Storage: Freeze instead to prevent drying out.
- Check for Frosting or Glaze: Freeze plain donuts if possible and add any toppings, or glazing after reheating.
- Use Parchment Paper: Prevent sticking by separating donuts with parchment paper or plastic wrap.
🌱 More Sweet Recipes You'll Love
📖 Recipe
The Best Cherry Donuts
Equipment
- skillet or
- measuring cups and
Ingredients
Donut Dough
- 250 grams all-purpose flour
- 45 grams organic cane sugar
- ½ tablespoon vanilla sugar
- 150 ml oat milk
- 40 grams vegan butter
- ½ package active dry yeast (4.5g)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ tablespoon Natural Black Cherry Artisan Flavor
- 1 liter oil for deep-frying
Garnish
- 160 g cherry jam
- cherries for garnish
- 240 g dairy-free whipping cream
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ⅛ teaspoon Natural Black Cherry Artisan Flavor (optional)
Instructions
Preparation
- Before starting, put all ingredients out and let them come to room temperature. Then combine flour, sugar, and active dry yeast in a mixing bowl. Set asid
Donut Dough
- Combine all dry ingredients: flour, sugar, and active dry yeast in a mixing bowl. Set aside.
- With the mixer on low, add oat milk, softened butter, vanilla extract, and black cherry flavor.
- Mix for 2 minutes on low, then knead for 8 minutes on medium-high speed. The dough should be smooth and spring back.
1st and 2nd Rise
- Shape it into a ball shape, place it in a greased bowl and cover. Let it rise for 1 - 2 hours in a warm, non-drafty place (90-100°F). Until doubled in size.
- Once dough has risen. Divide it into 4 or 6 even pieces. 4 Makes bigger donuts, 6 makes smaller serving sizes. Shape them into balls, by folding and rolling. To divide as evenly as possible we recommend weighing them.
- Place on a floured sheet with parchment and flatten the balls slightly by pressing down on them with your palm. Leave space in between, so they can rise without growing together (minimum of 2 inches). Cover with plastic, and let them rise for another 30-45 minutes in a warm, non-drafty place (90-100°F).
Fry Donuts
- Use a wide non-stick skillet, or a stainless steel cooking pot. Heat oil to 340-355°F (which is 170-180℃). Transfer risen balls gently, yet quickly, using a ladle, to the hot pan. Fry donuts until golden brown, while keeping an eye on the temperature from time to time..We recommend using a Termometer for this, such as the thermapen. However, if you don't have one you can hold a wooden toothpick into the oil. Once bubbles form around the wood, the oil should be hot enough.
- Transfer to paper towels to drain excess oil. Continue cooking in small batches until all donuts are baked. Let them cool down before handling further.
Assemble Donuts
- Prepare whipping cream following package or recipe instructions. Then season with lemon juice and cherry flavor to taste.
- Option 1: Cut donuts in half, spread with cherry jam, pipe whipped cream, drizzle with more jam, then garnish with a cherry. Option 2: Fill donuts with jam using a piping bag or syringe, top with whipped cream, more cherry jam and a cherry.
Notes
- How to Store Garnished Donuts: For donuts topped with jam and whipped cream, garnish just before serving for best freshness. Store garnished donuts in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 day.
- Short-Term Storage (Up to 3 Days): Cool ungarnished donuts completely, then store in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic in a paper bag. Keep at room temperature overnight or refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat briefly before garnishing and serving.
- Long-Term Storage (Up to 2 Months): Cool ungarnished donuts, wrap each in plastic wrap, then freeze in a zip-top bag or airtight container labeled with the date. Thaw overnight in the fridge or gently reheat in a toaster oven.
Nutrition
The provided nutritional information is an estimate. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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